Haemoglobin contains 0.33% of iron by weight. The molecular weight of haemoglobin is approximately 67200. Find out the number of iron atoms (at. wt. of Fe = 56) present in the molecule of haemoglobin. Explain how interaction of carbon monoxide with haemoglobin makes it poisonous ?

Haemoglobin contains 0.33% of iron by weight. The molecular weight of

1.	Haemoglobin contains 0.33% of iron by weight. The molecular weight of haemoglobin is approximately 67200. Find out the number of iron atoms (at. wt. of Fe = 56) present in the molecule of haemoglobin. Explain how interaction of carbon monoxide with haemoglobin makes it poisonous ?
Answer» n molecular weight of hemoglobin is 67200 It contains nearly 0.33% iron by weight Atomic weight of FE is 56 ASSUME in 100g hemoglobin, only 0.33% grams of Fe is present Therefore, 100 – 0.33 = 99.67 Moles of hemoglobin = 99.67/67200 = 0.00148 Moles of iron present in the hemoglobin = 0.33/56 = 0.00589 Now consider z/67200 moles of Hemoglobin contains 0.00589 moles Therefore the number of moles of iron present in ONE molecule of hemoglobin is equal to = = 3.9 = 4 ii) The hemoglobin present in the RBC of our body binds with oxygen in the lungs and distributes oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin has a higher affinity towards oxygen. The carbon monoxide occupies the three binding sites of oxygen in hemoglobin and inhibits the distribution of oxygen throughout the body which makes blood cells dead.